Question about profile photo rules

[Aspalax]

I have noticed some user posing with a handgun in their profile photo. Is that permitted by steam rules?

[Mailer]

DIsplaying acts of violence is not permitted by Steam guidelines, I do not think.

Their avatars may only be skimmed at the rate at which they are reported by another user however, so you may come across that some violations last longer than others.

Of course, this may be besides the point but I am curious as to how you know exactly that it is in fact the original owner posing with a weapon on their own avatar?

[tomk1]

I have noticed a game about guns and grenades is that permitted.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/450540/Hot_Dogs_Horseshoes__Hand_Grenades/
NO
Why does it bother you? I hate censorship by groups of people interfering in other people's life.

[Hannibal]

How is that an act of violence. Many people legally own guns. Unless he or she is pointing it at the camera or at themselves whats the issue. We do still have second ammendment rights in america and freedom of expression.

[ᕈᖺᎯﬡ𝜏ᗝⲙ]

Originally posted by Mailer:

DIsplaying acts of violence is not permitted by Steam guidelines, I do not think.

What the original poster is referring to doesn't even remotely constitute as an 'act of violence'.

I'm not sure if i'm missing anything, but if there's no gore, blood, or anything violent, it's fine.

[Hannibal]

Originally posted by Mailer:

DIsplaying acts of violence is not permitted by Steam guidelines, I do not think.

Their avatars may only be skimmed at the rate at which they are reported by another user however, so you may come across that some violations last longer than others.

Of course, this may be besides the point but I am curious as to how you know exactly that it is in fact the original owner posing with a weapon on their own avatar?

Oh p.s. please remove your artwork and screenshots of guns. They offend me..

[Aspalax]

Clarification: The profile picture is a photograph that potrays a person holding a handgun. Does not look like a still from a film, portraying an actor, model or anything like that. I do not want to point a finger to the exact profile because it may be ok by the rules.

[Spawn of Totoro]

Originally posted by Robin3sk:

Originally posted by Mailer:

DIsplaying acts of violence is not permitted by Steam guidelines, I do not think.

What the original poster is referring to doesn't even remotely constitute as an 'act of violence'.

I'm not sure if i'm missing anything, but if there's no gore, blood, or anything violent, it's fine.

Correct.

Simply displaying a gun as an avatar is not an issue. There needs to be more involved.

[ᕈᖺᎯﬡ𝜏ᗝⲙ]

Originally posted by Aspalax:

Clarification: The profile picture is a photograph that potrays a person holding a handgun. I do not want to point a finger to the exact profile because it may be ok by the rules.

You're free to report the profile and see what support does within 24 hours - 48 hours.

If no action is taken, then it's fine by the content rules and guidelines.

[cinedine]

If you think it's against the rules, report it. Simple as that.

[Mad Scientist]

If they're not pointing it at another person it's probably fine.
Keep in mind there's a lot of FPS games on Steam, and screenshots that would look far worse than that, but in context of the game&screenshot, are completely fine.

[Mailer]

Making a late disclaimer to all the users that have also responded thus far, that what I had stated does NOT make a case against the avatar in question what-so-ever.

I understand why one would make the assumption that I would somehow suggest that avatars showing a firearm would inherently fall under the part of the guidelines that I had mentioned, when in fact I never did so. Neither could I, considering the lack of an example.

You have to actually motivate why the avatar should be considered as such prior to it being removed, so I don’t see why people are jumping so quickly to me suggesting anything of the sort. I only stated a likely clause where it would be likely to give way for a report if this is indeed the case.

[Aspalax]

For the record. I posted because it occured to me that an actual photo with a gun may be a statement about gun politics. I understand it is accepted in the USA, so if there is no relevant accepted interpretation of the rules i will not file a report.

[Mad Scientist]

Originally posted by Aspalax:

For the record. I posted because it occured to me that an actual photo with a gun may be a statement about gun politics. I understand it is accepted in the USA, so if there is no relevant accepted interpretation of the rules i will not file a report.

Well, Steam is also a USA based company. But regardless of that, it's not really political in itself. It's not much different from seeing a person holding a pet, or showing pictures of their "battlestations"; it's about how much they like the thing in the photo and the pride of having it.

What you want to do is let others do their thing, and you do your thing. Don't look for offense or politics where none exist, you'll know if it's political they're really obvious about that. But just don't criticize the EU on the boards and you'll be fine, you can get a warning for 'prone to huge arguments' from thin skinned users.

[Aspalax]

Everything is not equal. Holding a gun is not equal to holding a kitten. And i believe we have to be intolerant of certain behaviours. But that is my opinion. If it's not in the steam rules i will not file a report.

[cinedine]

Originally posted by Orion:

It's not much different from seeing a person holding a pet, or showing pictures of their "battlestations"; it's about how much they like the thing in the photo and the pride of having it.

It's also about the profile as a whole. A white dude holding a gun with a profile full of white power symbolism and a flavour text "I shoot ♥♥♥♥♥♥s" sends a completely different message. As does someone who has "I feel depressed, goodbye world" as their description.

Also simply showing you have a gun can be judged completely different if you are confrontational on the forums and make threads of violence against a user.

It's always about context.